Bush Creates Panel To Craft Postal Reforms

December 12, 2002|By Tribune Newspapers

WASHINGTON — President Bush on Wednesday created an independent commission to examine the U.S. Postal Service's operations and recommend what could be the first major reforms of the agency since the 1970s.

The executive order creating the commission charges the nine members "to examine the state of the United States Postal Service, and to prepare and submit to the president a report articulating a proposed vision for the future of the United States Postal Service." The report is due July 31.

Bush's authorization of the new panel came a day after the postal service announced it had lost $676 million in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30.

"The Postal Service has been faced with ongoing financial issues that will require a very comprehensive look, so we can make certain we have sustainability of postal service to the American people," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.